So near but yet so far for Garvey

Lisnagarvey’s Fifths and Sixths were both knocked out of their cup semi-finals last Saturday.

The teams did well to reach the final four but each found their opponents too strong on the day.

The Fifths, led by Mark Murray, met Cookstown Fourths at Comber Road and went down 3-2. However, the visitors were always the better and stronger team and went behind after 15 minutes, through a misjudgement letting in the Cookstown team for a soft opening goal.

Cookstown added two more before the half-time interval and the game looked over for the 5ths but they typically fought back with a penalty corner from Peter Richardson and Grant Hayes. Howver, it was Cookstown who deservedly took themselves into the Ulster Junior Cup final.

The Sixths, captained by Tim Hazlett, had another difficult task in their Minor Cup semi-final when they had to travel to Portadown to play their third string. They eventually lost agonisingly 3-2 in the final minutes of a very tight cup tie.

Containment was the order of the day in the early stages with the 6ths defence of Ross Murphy, Robert Bowden, Richard McCracken coming to the fore but they could not prevent Portadown from scoring just before half time.

After 45 minutes, Garvey struck back through Richard McCracken, who found himself in space on the left-wing but the home side put their opponents under pressure and keeper Joachim Novaes made some fine saves to keep his team in the game.

It really came to life in the final 15 minutes when Portadown took the lead for the second time and then Cameron Black, making a fleeting appearance, equalised with just two minutes remaining.

However, Garvey’s chances were dashed with seconds left. Portadown were awarded a disputed penalty stroke and with it’s conversion, gained a place in the Minor Cup final.

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